New era begins as Texas Children's Pavilion for Women commences labor and delivery services at premier facility for women's, fetal and newborn care

HOUSTON - (March 27, 2012) - Texas Children's Hospital announced the start of labor and delivery services and the arrival of its first baby, a healthy boy, at its landmark new facility, Texas Children's Pavilion for Women. The nationally-ranked children's hospital has now fully expanded into obstetrical and gynecological care with the completion of its 15-story, $575-million state-of-the-art hospital which is staffed, designed and equipped to be among the nation's premier centers for women's, fetal and newborn health. Texas Children's Pavilion for Women can accommodate 5,000 births annually and specializes in multiple births and high-risk pregnancies. To view a video of the opening day celebration and the delivery of the first baby, please see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzV-pXOBb9U.

On Monday morning at 8:16 a.m. the first baby was delivered by scheduled cesarean section by Dr. Michael Belfort, obstetrician and gynecologist-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Dr. Susan Leong-Kee of BCM Obstetrics and Gynecology. Weighing 6 lbs. 6 oz., the baby boy, Brayten, was born to Houston residents Andrea and Brandon Green. A high-risk pregnancy, the delivery went smoothly and both mother and baby are doing well.

"What an exciting day for Texas Children's Hospital and the culmination of our vision to improve the health of children by providing high quality, comprehensive care for mothers starting before birth," said Mark A. Wallace, president and CEO of Texas Children's Hospital. "This is truly a new era for Texas Children's, because our Pavilion for Women is designed to care for women at all stages of life and we are fully committed to making a difference in women's healthcare through treatment, research and education."

Belfort pointed out that Texas Children's Pavilion for Women was created to care for the most complicated pregnancies and critically ill newborns as well as serve thousands of normal deliveries annually.

"The Pavilion for Women offers unprecedented access to leading experts offering the latest treatments and most advanced technologies in obstetrics, gynecology, maternal fetal medicine, fetal surgery and neonatal medicine," said Belfort. "This is a new paradigm for children's hospitals, but one that is sure to become a model for care across the country."

He added that the Pavilion is designed to facilitate the practice of family-centered maternity care, an evidenced-based care model that involves the family throughout the birthing and postpartum care process and promotes better outcomes.

Outpatient and inpatient services for women and babies at the 1.3 million-square-foot Pavilion encompass the full continuum of care including: gynecology, fertility, obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, fetal diagnostics and imaging, minimally invasive and open fetal surgery, women's behavioral health, labor and delivery, and newborn care. As part of Texas Children's, patients have access to pediatric subspecialists in 40 specialty areas.

The Pavilion opened with 99 licensed beds and space for expansion. All of its patient rooms are private, including the Level II and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) rooms.
BCM Obstetrics and Gynecology, the first of three OB/GYN practices to operate from the new Texas Children's facility, is located on the third floor. Two additional top-tier OB/GYN practices, The Women's Specialists of Houston and Partners in OB/GYN Care, are scheduled to relocate to the Pavilion later this year.

Texas Children's Maternal and Fetal Center is located on the Pavilion's fourth floor and is one of only a few worldwide to offer a full spectrum of maternal and fetal medicine. Comprehensive services include management of any complex pregnancy, genetic counseling, and the full range of fetal diagnostic procedures. The Fetal Center also provides highly specialized fetal interventions and surgeries for a number of congenital malformations, and the Pavilion houses some of the most sophisticated high tech operating rooms available anywhere. Texas Children's is among the nation's leaders in providing high-risk maternal care and the diagnosis and treatment of abnormalities in unborn and newborn infants.

A circular two-story sky bridge connects Texas Children's Pavilion for Women to the hospital's other patient care buildings. On Monday evening the signature bridge glowed bright blue from temporary lights illuminated to celebrate in the arrival of the first baby. Through Fri., March 30th, the lights will glow in a combination of pink and blue, in honor of all the babies born during Texas Children's first week of labor and delivery services.

The completion of the Pavilion for Women culminates Texas Children's Vision 2010 expansion, a four-year, $1.5 billion initiative that also included renovation of its Feigin Center research facilities as well as the creation of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, one of the world's first basic research institutes dedicated to childhood neurological diseases, and Texas Children's West Campus, a community pediatric hospital in suburban West Houston.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.